VanSlyke VW - DoubleCab

[crukab]

Great thread, how did it turn out ???

This was my '63, the day I sold it in 2005..

_________________
Tom

My Pops:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604100&highlight=
I know you will always be with me, rest in peace with no more pain. 8/13/14.....

In the yard right now:
'51 Dodge 5 window truck
'65 Bug
'66 Singlecab
'82 Rabbit Truck Diesel from CALI
'86 Doublecab W/T
'91 Vanagon carat/wolfsbrg.Tiico
'88 Dodge Ram pickup
'11 Jetta Wagon

[bluebug66]

I grew up and lived in Knoxville for years. My 69 beetle and 72 Super Beetle were bought new from Van Slyke. I now use the Van Slyke license frame on my 66 even though it did not come from there. They serviced a 77 Rabbit that I owned in the early 80s' so they were still in business then. Snider Volkswagen was the other VW dealer in Knoxville during those days.

[TNVertguy]

Figured I'd take a shot at reviving an old thread. Any progress on the DC? We appreciate all the info on the sheet metal repair.

Van Slyke VW/Subaru of Knoxville was still a going concern in May of 1980 when they sold my 1979 Black Super Beetle Convertible Epilog new. I spoke to its original owner, and he said that his wife wanted the white Convertible they also had in stock, but it had some mechanical issue, so they bought the black one. I too would like to find a Van Slyke dealer plate. Attached is a photo of my 63 DC.

[DownRiver]

Been a bit sidetracked for a while, but I'm back into it.

I got a new single bay shop to work in, so I can make a mess and not worry about dust in places it shouldn't be.

CE Safaris went in today. I also turned the pop-out around on the third door. (Doublecab thing) Just a bit of finish welding and grinding, then I can really get into the sanding and paint. I'm shooting for mid-summer to be assembling. I hope it's this summer.
_________________
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right. -Henry Ford
VanSlyke VW Doublecab

[peecee69]

Any progress? I hope this doesn't end up as another father/son project that never happened. Although having a new little one does tend to force your priorities into the correct order.

[DownRiver]

Well, after a couple months of fitting, I finally got the Gerson dogleg outer welded in.

Got the truck turned around, then spent a bunch of hours cleaning the garage. It was nice to literally turn the corner.

Welded up about 40 holes in the nose where someone went crazy welding nails. I hope to spread some Kitty hair soon.

Also made some progress on the drivers side corner and wheelwell.

Before:

After:

I wanted to keep as much OG metal as possible, since it is so nice. The wheel well is mostly welded in and metal finished now. The corner needs a bit more final fitting, then it's ready to get crimped.
_________________
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right. -Henry Ford
VanSlyke VW Doublecab

[DownRiver]

- Gerson drivers Side Floor In.

- Passenger side gate bottom channel done. gate swinging.

- Small patches on the a-pillar and the inner dogleg.
- A couple coats of POR15 on the hidden ares.
- Pulled my heaterboxes, and some tin to be cleaned up and painted.

My Dogleg is still not in, but it fits like a glove. I hope to have that in real soon, and get going on my drivers side gate and wheel well.

Just got to find the time.
_________________
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right. -Henry Ford
VanSlyke VW Doublecab

[DownRiver]

Been busy lately with a new son and work and all, but here are some update.


I decided to use the tall Gerson outer with hinge mounts, and I'm glad I did. It needed only minor tweaks at the rocker to get nice gaps all around. Here it is all welded up with a new to the truck cargo door swinging very nicely.

Mocked up with dogleg before welding.

The rear floor is pretty solid, however, I did cut a new piece for the outer inch and a half. You can also see the welding on the B pillar.

I decided to just patch the front floor. Here is my patch piece just tacked in while I fit an inner dogleg patch. Note my poor attempt at the pressing.

I've also tacked in my drivers side battery tray. Still waiting to finish the corner.

I hope to get the gates swinging soon, as well as finish the corner. Then maybe some primer. Ooooh-we am I looking forward to block sanding.l
_________________
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right. -Henry Ford
VanSlyke VW Doublecab

[DownRiver]

Thanks Blue.

I'm really enjoying working on this truck. Even during the cold ass winter we had. I'm learning as I go with welding, panel fitting, body work, etc. Plus I get a bunch of new tools.

Recent progress:
From this:

To this:

Next Sunday (Easter) will be 1 year of me owning this truck.
_________________
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right. -Henry Ford
VanSlyke VW Doublecab

[bigblue]

its been a LONG time since i read this thread..and i am floored!! has come suchh a long way!! keep going. dont stop.
_________________
1966 Sedan (Dad owned in Germany '74-'75)
1970 Yukon Yellow Sedan 'Puddin' SOLD
1970 Beetle Convertible (under restoration) SOLD
1970 Sedan (fresh restoration)Trophy Queen
1973 Super Beetle (Totaled in '99)
1972 Standard Beetle SOLD

looking for a 1969 Beetle hardtop

i mess with sasquatch on weekends.

[DownRiver]

Just a bit of mid-week progress,

I got one lower gate channel trimmed and fitting nice. Time for POR-15 and a bit of spot welding.

Next, I spent an hour or so on the ground hammering the passenger side corner. It turned out much better than expected and I've decided not to use my Gerson lower truck corner. Some more hammer dolly work, and some time with the shrinking disc should get it very close with minimal filler necessary.

Stoked!
_________________
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right. -Henry Ford
VanSlyke VW Doublecab

[DownRiver]

Thank You!

More History:

I got an email this past weekend from Michael in Tennessee. (Very cool guy) It turns out that there is a high probability that his brother in law (Ty) may have been a previous owner of the Van Slyke around 1992. Michael shared numerous stories including details of a 3 way trade which he was involved in to get it from the PO. (thing, bug, truck) as well as more history on the dealer, and it's place in town. Michael also shared some background on the local VW scene, and gave me some leads on who might be able to help me track down some information. I have Ty's cell number and I hope to talk to him in the next day or so. Stay tuned.

Thanks again Michael
_________________
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right. -Henry Ford
VanSlyke VW Doublecab

[Glenn A]

Looks like you found yourself a nice dry DC. Nice work on the dogleg and corner . good luck with it .
_________________

[Floridian]

Thanks for the information

Flat Rock the level pebble.....

When I talked to PO I didn't state that he could have got more...I just figured that ignorance is bliss for this case. He did list the DC in a odd catgory on ebay to sell it...I had the money in cash that day too and the PO stated that was number 2 which I assume was after you....So does that mean I am your DC's godfather?

I would send the PO a picture before you pick him up....Just to break him in before you show him the real thing....Either he is going to be jonesing to get another one or kicking himself in the butt for selling this one...

[DownRiver]

Right on Floridian!

Interesting about the PO. I called the guy a couple months after I bought it asking about an interior panel. He wasn't so giddy when I told him I would have paid more. He said he heard that more than once after I bought it....Nice guy though. I told him when I was done with it I'd cruise by and take him and his son for a burger.

Downriver eh? I'm in AP.

About the corner, I made a cut all the way across the top below the support then down the left side at the seam. Next I made a cut inside the channel running parallel to the right edge. The only spot welds were inside the weatherstrip channel. For those, I center punched then used a spot weld cutter and a bit of coaxing with some needle nose pliers rolling the metal strip off. It turned out pretty clean with only 1 or 2 holes punched through. Those will be used to weld the new corner in anyway along with some spot welds. Then, I just separated the the skin from the other side of the vertical channel with a grinder, and split it from the tray.

The thing I was most concerned about was separating the hammered over bed skin. It was pretty easy once I got a pick up and in there. Once it started, I was able to flex the old skin back and forth a bit opening up the fold and the old skin came out clean. I was pleased with the end results and kicked back with a victory cigar.
_________________
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right. -Henry Ford
VanSlyke VW Doublecab

[Floridian]

It looks like you are making good progress.....I am trying to repair a rear cab corner, too....How did you remove the spot welds around the rear corner spot - drilling them out,grinding or using a seam buster?

I read the topics in the Paint section on this subject but the spot welds on a VW are small and numerous. These spot weld are hard for me to find at times.... I have tried drilling to drill but it ends up looking like swiss cheese...

FYI- I also live downriver and I was one of the people that called the day you the bought the Van Syke. The PO told me to call at a certain time but he must had it timed to the same time you were there looking at it..sneaky or by chance....I called after you bought it and he was giddy that he got what he was asking for it....He told me that he had people calling from California and really all over about it. He wanted to know what was so special about the having a DC...It seemed that he happened upon the DC....
I am glad to see you are fixing it....Keep up the good work

[DownRiver]

I'm still debating on what I want to do here:

I have this huge Gerson panel, which seems to fit perfectly.

But, to use that piece, I would have to cut down the height for the vents. and then do a series of LOOOOONG welds. Since I'm a new welder, I'm a bit hesitant to do that to myself.

Luckily, the truck vents are good, and the wheel lip is good, so I might just cut out the small bad section and replace with some flat stock. I think I have just enough good land under the vents and above the lip to make it work. All the metal in front of the wheel well, and below the front 2 sets of vents is perfect.
_________________
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right. -Henry Ford
VanSlyke VW Doublecab

[DownRiver]

Finally some visual progress.
Started off the weekend by cutting out the short rocker. I'll make a section of inner and weld it in. The Gerson 2 piece rocker should fit real nice.

Then more work on the gates.
To replace the bottom channel, there is a hammered over edge along the bottom of the gate. I carefully separated that fold and removed the old channel. Later, I need to weld in a small section, then work on getting the hinges in-line and the new lower channel fitted and welded in.

Saturday, I started cutting on the corner, out with the old and in with the new.

Next, a bit more time in grind land.

_________________
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right. -Henry Ford
VanSlyke VW Doublecab

[wardvwracer]

Nice work and a nice truck. Thanks for posting your story and progress.
_________________
David Ward
ACME Nostalgia Street/Strip '62 Buggy
1963 Single Cab
1969 Beetle Convertible
63 11-Window Kombi Bus
Cornpanzers

[DownRiver]

Started cutting on my B-pillar. It looks worse than it is, because of previous attempts at collision repair down low. A new B-pillar, rocker, dogleg outer and dogleg closeout should weld in nice.

The hinge, upper B, jackpoint, and door channel are surprisingly well in line.

I separated the dogleg. It's solid and straight except by the floor. I'll sand, POR-15, then fit the outer dogleg.

I decided to just patch the floor instead of replacing outers, so I made some templates for the floor and dogleg inner patches.

It poured rain all weekend. I smoked some turkey and chicken legs and the garage smells like Jack Daniels barrels.
_________________
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right. -Henry Ford
VanSlyke VW Doublecab